Iowa's Reese Medals; Bull, Vincelli and Lehman Among 9 to Advance to U.S. Senior Open Final Qualifying

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  EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler carded eight birdies during his final round Sunday in Texas to win the CJ Cup Byron Nelson by a whopping eight strokes for his first victory of the 2025 season.

On Monday, Mikkel Reese, a professional from Iowa, did one better at Bearpath Golf and Country Club, recording nine birdies on his way to a 7-under 65 to earn medalist honors and a spot in the final stage of qualifying for the 2025 U.S. Senior Open in Colorado.

“Yesterday was the first time I played here and it just felt good,” the 53-year-old Reese said after qualifying Monday. “It set up for me off the tee box and I drove the ball well all day. I made a couple of mistakes, but I made some really good putts for birdies.”

With three birdies over his first four holes Monday, Reese said he couldn’t have gotten off to a better start.

“It was a very stress-free start. I made a couple of weird bogeys, but every time I made a bogey, I made a birdie right after," he said. "I’ve played zero tournament golf and just a couple of rounds, but golf is like riding a bike to me. If I putt well, I play well, and I putted well today.”

Turning in 4-under for the round, Reese would go bogey-free during his final nine holes, adding three more birdies along the way to help him cruise to the top of the leaderboard for a four-stroke victory at 7-under 65.

Reese fell in a two-way playoff to Joel B. Johnson at Dellwood Country Club in 2022 to finish as first alternate.

Jesse Bull, winner of the 2014 Minnesota Golf Association Amateur on his home course at The Club at Golden Valley and the 2023 MGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Island View Golf Club, shook off a challenging start Monday, carding four birdies during his final nine holes to finish in second place at 3-under 69.

“There was a lot going on during the front nine,” said Bull, who’s competing in his first senior event after turning 50 last month. “I hit a couple of provisionals on [No. 5] but luckily my first one was in bounds. I was able to iron some things on the front after that and didn’t have any bad misses.”

Turning in 1-over Monday, Bull birdied two of his first three of his inward nine to reach 1-under before rolling in back-to-back birdie putts from 10 feet to finish his day at 3-under 69.

“If you can limit the bogeys and find a couple of birdies, it adds up to a good score,” Bull said. “I was happy for this early in the season to get back in a groove.

“The next step is going to be a difficult cut to make. Good scores out here today—you can make a bunch of pars today and be okay. But now I have to get ready to make some birdies. I’m glad I have a little bit of time before then and it’s exciting to get ready for a big tournament and have something to practice for.”

Darin Fisher, a professional from Albia, Iowa, scattered four birdies against two bogeys Monday to post a 2-under 70 to claim third place and a spot in the next stage of qualifying.

Despite back-to-back bogeys to close out his round Monday, Tony Vincelli held on for a round of even par 72 to advance, looking to qualify for his third USGA championship.

“I thought it was a solid day, overall. I hit the ball really well and hit some good putts,” Vincelli said after his round Monday. “Started to finish really well but stumbled coming in on 17 and 18. Fortunately, I made a good putt on 18 to get in.”

Vincelli played his first 14 holes in even par before moving to 2-under with birdies at the 15th and 16th.

Running into trouble late, Vincelli carded a bogey at the 17th and made a crucial bogey putt from six feet at the last to secure his spot in the final stage of qualifying.

“I thought even par would get in, so I felt better when the putt went in on 18,” Vincelli said. “Last year I didn’t have a great start to the season—I didn’t shoot a round below par until August. So far this year I have three rounds under par.”

Chris Tollefsrud played his opening nine in 4-under Monday on his way to a share of fourth place at even par 72 to advance along with professional Eric Chiles, Daryl Schomer and four-time MGA Senior Amateur champion Jim Lehman.

Augsburg College men’s and women’s head golf coach Eric Rolland emerged victorious from a 3-for-1 playoff to earn the final qualifying spot after carding a 1-over 73.

Professional Bradley Lanning, of Hortonville, Wis., claimed first alternate honors, while Paul Schubring, from Chaska, Minn., finished with second alternate honors.

The 2025 U.S. Senior Open is set to be played June 26-29 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo.

This year’s championship marks the third U.S. Senior Open played at The Broadmoor, most recently hosting the 2019 championship, won by David Toms.

A pair of U.S. Amateur championships (1959, 1967) have been contested at the course, as well as two U.S. Women’s Opens (1995, 2011) and a Curtis Cup in 1962.

At 6,300 yards above sea level, the course poses an extra challenge on the 7,200-yard Donald Ross design, which opened in 1918.